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Thursday, October 28, 2004

Bush endorses homosexual civil unions & Univseral Salvation

There's a feeling amongst evangelicals that George W. Bush is one of us -- that he too is an evangelical Christian. Most conservative Christians feel a kinship with him as a result.

But is he really? I don't know the answer to that question; that's between George Bush and God.

But I do know that homosexual marriage is a big motivating issue for evangelicals and the Bush administration has chosen to make it an issue by advocating a Constitutional amendment to "protect marriage."

I also know that George Bush claims to be a Christian, and that he has said that the most influential philosopher in his life was Jesus Christ -- the very same Jesus Christ who said, "I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life, no man comes to the Father but by Me."

Apparently, George Bush disagrees both with his concerned evangelical allies and his favorite philosopher...

GOOD MORNING AMERICA
October 26, 2004

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

CHARLES GIBSON, ABC NEWS
All right. Thanks, Tony. We're gonna turn again now to our exclusive interview with President George W. Bush. Everybody knows it's now one of the tightest presidential races ever. And over the weekend, I had some time to spend with the president and the first lady at their ranch down in Crawford, Texas. And we covered a wide range of personal, sensitive subjects, including religion and their views of homosexuality.
-----------------------------

CHARLES GIBSON
I want to ask you about one social issue, 'cause you gave an answer that I thought was really interesting in the third debate. Bob Schieffer asked you if you thought homosexuals were born that way ...
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES
Yeah.

CHARLES GIBSON
... or became that way. And you said you didn't know.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
Right. I don't.

CHARLES GIBSON
So, the possibility, it's a nature-nurture argument. So, the possibility exists in your mind that it could be nature.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
Sure.

CHARLES GIBSON
They could be born that way. If that's the case, just for sake of argument, that's an unalterable characteristic for them. That's like being black or being a woman. So, how can we deny them rights in any way to a civil union that would allow, give them the same economic rights or health rights or other things?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
I don't think we should deny people rights to a civil union, a legal arrangement, if that's when a state chooses to do so.

CHARLES GIBSON
But the (Republican Party) platform opposes it.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
Well, I don't. I view the definition of marriage different from legal arrangements that enable people to have rights. And I strongly believe that marriage ought to be defined as between, a union between a man and a woman.

CHARLES GIBSON
So, the Republican platform on that point, as far as you're concerned, is wrong?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
Right.

CHARLES GIBSON
How about the constitutional amendment on marriage?
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY
Well, I think it gives the United States a chance to debate the issue. I think it's an issue that people want to talk about. But with respect to everyone involved, and with respect to people.

CHARLES GIBSON
Do you agree with him on the constitutional amendment?
LAURA BUSH
I'm not really sure about it. I think it's important to have the debate.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
Look, if, if you're, if you're interested in preserving marriage as a union between a man and a woman, there is one way to do so without the courts making the decisions, that's through the constitutional process.

......

CHARLES GIBSON
Do we all worship the same God, Christian and Muslim?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
I think we do.
......

CHARLES GIBSON
Do Christians and non-Christians and Muslims go to heaven in your mind?
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
Yes, they do. We have different routes of getting there. But I will, I, I want you to understand, I want your listeners to understand, I don't get to decide who goes to heaven. The almighty God decides who goes to heaven. And I am on my personal walk.